Signaling system.



J. G. NINA SGNLNG SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED 00124, 1905.

Patented July 6, 1909.

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J". G. NOLEN.

SGNALING` SYSTEM.

.APPLIGATIGN IILED 00T.4, 1905.

927,377. 'Patented July 6, 1909.

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` ILLINOIS.

sIGivALING SYSTEM;

To all whom 'it may concern:

` f Be it known that l, JAMES G. NOLEN, citizen of the United`States,-residing `at Chif cago, in the county of Cook and State of Illiaccmparying drawings,

nols, have invented acertainnew and usefulv` Improvement `in Signaling Systems, of which the following isafull, clear, concise,- and ex` act description, reference` being'had to the forming apart of this speci cation.A

My invention `relates to av combined re alarm and watchlnaris signaling system, and has for its object a more simplified arrangement ot the circuits therefor Vand ofappara'- tus employed in connection therewith. In a system of this kind provision must be made for at all times keeping th-eline and apparatus in condition to send andl receive firef alarm signals without `interference from the watchmans signals, also to provide means test at all times so that defects thereinl canbe `detected at the `central exchange, `and'so that provision vcan be made at the central ex change for so'chang-ing the circuits that the proper signals can be sent from every station on theline. r

My invention, therefore, contemplates irn-h proved means `for carrying out these 'necessary features;

, ratus associated therewith. Fic'. 2 is `a front l My invention will be better understood by -reference to the accompanying drawingsyin which- Figure 1 isa diagrammatic representation of'a circuit and the `station and central appaelevation of a station box, parts being broken `away to reveal interior arrangements, and

Fi v. 3 is a sectional view takenon line 3 3 `The 'box 1 having an opening 3 4which is covered by the glass plate 4 in a manner well known the art. At the interior of the box is thepartition wall 5 extending downwardly from `the ""to'p of the box and the artition `wall (y extending upwardly from t 1e -base ofl the box,

`the partitions 'at their-ends 'beingjseparated' to leave the intervening slot or passageway 7. :An'actuatingarm `Sis pivoted to the post 9 spe'ciac'atibn of Letters Patent.

Application filed. October 4, 1905. Serial No. 281,229.

for reventing manipulation ofthe apparaltu-s is provided with the cover 2` instruments.

'Patented July 6, 1909.

l'spring mechanism, as for instance by the flat spring 1 1 secured at its rear end in the post 9 .and bearingvbetween the pins 12 secured in the lever. A toothed wheel 13 is secured to `the lever concentric with its pivot point and is en aged by the esca ement mechanism 14. At t e front end of t e arm` is secured the l segment 15 which is concentric with the lever pivot and which at its outer peri hery has the code teeth 16j properly spaced ficlr any requiredirsignal number, and suitably secured to a Wallofthe box is the switchingv circuit changingmeclaanism 17 whoseV actuating spring 18 is interposed `to be moved by the teeth 16 uponactuation of the lever. This switching mechanism has also a` contact spring-19 normally in engagement with the spring 18, and the springs 20 and 21 insulated. from .the other springs and normally-in engagement. Extending through the partition wall 6 near the topis the detent rod 22 provided with the actuating head 23,'this A ke hole 24,isiiprovided through the cover o the 'box 'in such position that `u on insertion'and turning of the key the tai of vthe key will engage the extension 25; frorn the rear end of the actuating lever Ato cause the lever arm and the segment 15 to be ro,-

tated downwardly a sufficient distance to lcarry thecode tooths'eries 16 `be ond `the end otthe actuating spring 18.

en the Akey has been turned sufficiently theextension 25 will: be released and-the spring 11 willreturn the lever arm to its normal posi.

ing lspringto 'successively disconnect the spring `from the normal contact spring 19 to Vcorres ondingly interrupt the clrcuit connected) with said contacts. This series 16 corresponds `to the watchmanssignal, and the watchman by merel inserting'l and turn ing the key within the ook causeshis "number to be indicated on the central exchange If an alarm of ire,`however, is tobe given the glass `plate 4 must be broken to fgain access to the actuating head 23- which is `pulled outwardly to withdraw the -detent ro w22-front` the patholfyt-he actuatin lever whichthereu' on isrnoved upwardly the `spring 1 1' una it engages the stap 26, pon

upward assa e, however, of the segment the teet of t e successive code'sections 27 are moved across the point of the actuating spring 18 and the corresponding signal is 5 transmitted tov the central exchange any number of times desired, in this case three. The person'sending in an alarm may repeat the series any number of times by merely ressing the lever downwardly and releasing 1t. recess 28 for accommodating the latch 29 actuated'by spring 30. Upon pullin out the actuating ead 23 the end of the atch is depressed to engage below the edge of the partition wall 6 and thus the detent is prevented from being returned to its normal position by the alarm sending. As is usual ln'systems of this kind, a special person is detailed to re lace the apparatus after usa e thereof and t e detent mechanism can easi y be returned to lock the arm by inserting a suitable tool into the opening 31 to remove the latch 29'from the locking edge of the partition wall, and upon placing a new glass plate Within th openingthe station box 1s again in sha e to be operated by the watchman or for t e purpose of sending iire alarm signals. The partition walls 5 and 6 serve to protect the operative parts and to prevent interference therewith.

In Fig. 1 a number of station boxes are shown connected in a line which terminates at the centrall exchange in signal receivin apparatus. The line limb a at the centra 35 exchange includes the winding 32 of the relay 33 and the source 34 of direct current being then connected to ground. The line limb b includes the winding 35 of the relay 36 and is'also normally connected to ground through a switch arm 37 An alternate contact 38 for this switch arm connects with the line limb a between the relay 33 and the source 34. The line limbs a and Z) serially include the sprin f mechanisms at the various stations and the ine is thus normally closed and the relays energized. The armature 39 of the relay 36 normally engages its front contact 40 and has an alternate contact 41. The armature 42 of the relay 33 normally engages its front contact 43v and has the back contact'44. A code signal receiving apparatus 45 is adapted for inclusion in circuit with the battery 46 and by means of the switches 47 and 48 this code mechanism is adapted to be actuated when the relays are energized or when they become inert, the

particular arrangement shown causing actuation of the mechanism when the relays become inert. As before stated, the springs 18, 19, 2O and21 at each station are included serially in circuit and the shape and adjustment of the springs 18 and 19 is such that there will be prolonged sliding contact between these springs before they are iinally disengaged upon engagement of the code The detent rod 22 is provided with a.

teeth on the segment with the actuating spring 18. The springsA 20 and 21 however, are separated uickly upon actuation of the spring 18 by t e code segment. The purpose of the prolonged engagement of the springs 18 and 19 and the quick disengagel ment of the springs 2() and 21 is to avoid interference with the proper transmission of signals upon existence of defects inthe system and will be explained more fully later. The actuating armsat the various substations are connected together and with a common ground connection G.

Under normal conditions the operation is as follows: Current flows from the source 34 80,

through the relay. 33, line limb a and serially through the switch mechanisms at the stations to line limb b and through the relay 36, switch arm 37 to ground at the substation and back tothe source 34, both relays being 35 energized and the si nal producing circuit opened. 'Should the ine be broken at any substation, as by the watchman insertin and turningthe key, the actuating arm wi l be rotated as before described, and upon rep lease will successively disengage the contact springs 18 and 19 to successively open. the circuit whereby both relays are corre. spondingly` denergized and the circuit-of t e signal indicating apparatus correspond.- ingly actuated. YIn the same manner the various code series will be transmitted over the line to be indicated upon the signal receiving'apparatus upon manipulation of an actuating lever to -sound a fire alarm@ '00 Should the relays become inert without producing a signal the central attendant knows that the line is defective, this sym tom being usually due to an open line. l e therefore moves the switch .arm 37into engagement L05 with thecontact 38 to connect both line limbs with the saine terminal of the source and moves the switch arms 47 and 48 over to their respective alternate contacts so that the front contacts 40 and 43 are brought` 11o into use. Thus the local circuit including the signal receiving apparatus 45 and the battery 46 is closed upon energization of either relay and as will be heremafter described the signal may then be sent from any station. For instance ii' the break occurred anywhere along the line limb a the relays will become inert, as there could be no ground connection to complete circuit to the source 34. When the attendant at the cen- 120 tral station receives this signal he moves the switch arms 47, 48 and 37 over to their, alternate contacts as above described. Su pose then, that an alarm is to be sent 1n l'rom station 12. As the lever thereat is ac'- 125 tuated the actuating spring 18 will'be connected to earth every time it is engaged by onealof the code teeth, and as the contact between the springs 19 and 18 is prolonged there will be a ground connection from the i code signal by the attraction of the arma-` lline limb b. With each engagement of the -is broken,a complete circuit' will be closed vfrom the source 311 `through the switch 37,

through the relay 36, serially through the intervening switch mechanisms and through the springs 19 and 18 to the engaging tooth and through the actuating arm to the coinmon ground G. The prolonged engagement of the springs 18 and 19 allows the simultaneous engagement of. spring 18 vwith the code teeth and the spring 19 for a sufficient length of time forv the relay 36 to be actuated, the relay becoming thus repeatedly energized in accordance with the particular code series and denergized asV the contacts 18 and 19 are disengaged. The local circuit includin the signal receiving apparatus at the centra station is therefore closed according to the ture of the relay 36 and the proper signal is'therefore received at the central station.

' When a code tooth engages the spring 18 in the upward motion oi' the code tooth segoperations of the springs 18 and 19 which.

willthen operate as above described. In the same manner uponiactuation of apparatus at stationsNo. 21 and No. 22 relay 36 would control the signal receiving apparatus. If the break occurred in line limb b relay 36 would remain inert and relay 33 would control the signal indicating apparatus. A ground. on either line limb will immediately manifest itself in the denergization oi relay 36, as the ground would short-circuit this relay. The central'operator then would close the switch 37 with. the contact 38 and the various stations would again be in proper circuit to send signals to the central eX- change. If the ground ap eared on line limb a, the relay 33 would, o' course, remain energized and the relay 36 would also become energized upon -connection of the switch 37 with the contact 38.l Actuation then of apparatus at any station will cause successive openings of the line upon disengagement of the contacts 2O and 21, and relay 36 becomes successively denergized'and the signal indicating apparatus will give the corresponding code slgnal. 1n the same way if the ground appeared on line limb b relay 36 would remain energized (the switch 37 being in connection with the contact 38) and relay 33 denergized in correspondence with the code signals generated at the actucentral exc the `dotted line, there will be no breaking of the line upon actuation of the station apparatus, as would be the case under normal conditions. When the short circuited substation ap aratus is actuated, however, the line limb lfwill be connected directly with ground through the springs 19 and 18, the engaging code tooth and the common ground conductor; Thus the relay 33 will remain energized, being included in the following circuit: )from ground. through current source 34, relay 33, line limb a, through the various preceding switching apparatus, through. the short circuiting path shown in dotted lines, through springs 19 `and 18 and the engaging tooth to ground. The relay 36, however, is

short circuitedwhenever this circuit is closed and will therefore be denergized by each engagement of the spring 18 by a code tooth.

Since no signal is receivedat the central station when such a short circuit is performed, .the` switch arms will remain in their normal particularly effective in preventing interfera i ence from grounds with the effective operation of the particular controlling relayat the central exchange.

Thus by virtue of my improved arrangement of apparatus and circuits the system is operable under any ofthe defects which are usually prevalent in such systems. The apparatus at the stations is very simple of construction and employs a minimum number of parts and there is little liability, therefore, of its gettingvout of order very readily. l do notwish to be limited, however, to the exact construction of the apparatus and arrangement thereof and circuits as shown, as changes may readily be made without dc-f parting from the spirit of my invention.

What l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a iire alarm and signaling s Tstem, the combination with a line leading trom a central exchange through a series of stations, of signal receiving apparatus at the central exchange, code teeth at each station, an actuating spring adapted for engagement with the code teeth, such engagement caus- The prolonged engagement of the' ing a break in the line at each side of said actuating spring.

2. In 'a Afire alarm and signaling system,

v the combination with a line leading from a central exchange through a series of stations, of'sivnal receiving ap aratus at the hangs, code teet atleach station, an actuating spring adapted for engagement with the code teeth, and means adapted upon such engagement for entirely disconnecting said actuating spring from the line.

3. In a signaling system, the combination with a line leading from a central office through a series of stations, of code teeth-at each station, switch mechanism having an actuating spring for engagement with said code teeth, contacts adapted upon engagement of said actuating spring with the code teeth to be actuated to quickly open the line at one side of the actuating spring, and a second contact for the actuating springA adapted upon engagement of said spring with the code teeth to have prolonged contact therewith and to be. finally disconnected therefrom to open the line at the other side of the actuating spring.

4. In a signaling system, the combination with a line leading from a central exchange through a series of substations, of signal receiving apparatus at the central exchange', a pivotcd actuating lever at each substation, a segment concentric with said lever pivot having code teeth thereon, switch spring mechanism adapted to be actuated by said code teeth, said switch spring mechanism consisting of two pairs of contact s rings, one ofI said springs being adapted or e'ngagement with the code teeth, such engagement causing a break in the line at each side of the actuating spring.

5. In a signaling system, the combination with a line leading from a central exchan e through a series of circuit controlling su stations, of signal receiving apparatus at the central exchange, code teeth at each substation, an actuating switch spring adapted for engagement with the code teeth, an auxiliary actuating spring operating with` but insulated from said main actuating spring, and contact springs for each of said actuating springs, means adapted when said actuating switch spring engages the code` teeth for en tirely disconnecting said switch spring from the line.

6. In a si naling system, the combination with a line Ieading from a central exchange tion mechanically connected together and adapted to be actuated by said code teeth,

and a contact spring for each of said actuating springs, all of said springs being serially connected in the line circuit, one of said actuating springs being adapted to be separated from its contact spring immediately upon the engagement of a code tooth thereby opening the line circuit, the other 0l said actuating springs having prolonged engagement with its contact s ring whereby one side of the line mayA e connected with ground connected with said code teeth.

7. In a si naling system, the combination with a line eading from a central exchange through a series of circuit controlling substations, of signal receiving a paratus at the central exchange, said signIl) receiving apparatus being controlled -by relays connected etween the line and a third conductor, code teeth at each station, said code teeth being connected with the third conductor, vtwo actuatingsprings operating together adapted to be actuated by'said code teeth, and a contact spring-for each actuating spring, all of said springs bein serially connected in the line circuit, one o said actuating springs being adapted to be separated from its contact spring immediately upon the engagement of the other of said actuating springs with a code tooth, the actuating spring connecting with the code tooth being adapted to have prolonged engagement with its contact spring whereby that side of the line connected with its contact spring may be connected with the third conductor, said contact spring engaged by said code tooth being adapted to finally disconnect from its con tact spring to break the circuit.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 16th day of Sept. A. D. 1905.

JAMES G. N GLEN.

Witnesses:

CHARLES J. SCHMIDT, LEONARD W'. N ovANDER. 

